SMART extension to Larkspur gets two approvals from key agency

Zac Wilder, owner of Sonoma-Marin Arborists, prepares to work on trees along railroad tracks next to Mission Avenue in San Rafael, Calif. on Friday, April 11, 2014. Wilder's company has been contracted by SMART to clear trees and limbs along the train's rout through Sonoma and Marin counties. (Alan Dep/Marin Independent Journal)
Alan Dep

It was green lights this week for the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit's effort to get $40 million to pay for train service to Larkspur, where passengers could hop on ferries into San Francisco.

On Friday, a committee of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission — the agency that controls much of the transportation spending in the Bay Area — endorsed the San Rafael to Larkspur extension for $20 million in federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery funds.

Without that endorsement, SMART would have virtually no chance of getting the money. Now it has a fighting chance. The SMART extension was one of eight Bay Area projects endorsed by the MTC's Legislation Committee. In all, 23 projects were looking for the endorsement.

"We are grateful for the endorsement, now we have to work with our federal representatives," said Farhad Mansourian, SMART's general manager.

SMART's efforts will likely be boosted by another action taken this week by another MTC committee. On Wednesday the Programming and Allocations Committee approved giving SMART $20 million for the extension. That money was initially targeted for a freeway interchange in Greenbrae, but after local protest, it was dropped. Those dollars are from the 2004 voter-approved Regional Measure 2, which increased tolls on state bridges by $1 for transportation projects.

"It is money that will help SMART get to Larkspur and that's something the commission is behind," said John Goodwin, MTC spokesman.

Having the money in hand could help get the federal dollars because SMART will be able to show there is not only local interest, but local financial backing.

"All these steps show it's a top project for the region," Mansourian said. "That helps the project."

And support is needed for the highly competitive federal dollars, said Steve Heminger, executive director of the MTC. He noted only the projects with the best chance of succeeding are given the endorsement.

"The chances of any one of these projects scoring is a long shot," he said. "The more projects we endorse the less value the endorsement has."

The rail project is being phased, and a $428 million San Rafael-to-Santa Rosa line is under construction. Marin rail stops will include downtown San Rafael, the Marin Civic Center and stations in Novato at Hamilton and Atherton Avenue.

SMART should learn by fall if its application for federal money is successful. Mansourian said he is developing others pots of money in case the effort fails.